Tubing anchor



SePt- 1, 1936-v E. v. cRoWx y 2,053,065

TUBING ANCHOR Filed Aug. 2, 1953 INVENTOR.

ERD v. cRowELL ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. l, 1936 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE TUBING ANCHOR Erd V. Crowell, Glendale, Calif. Application Auguste, 1933, serial No. 683,305 claims. (01.'103-219) This invention is a tubing catcher of the type disclosed :in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,866,087 of vJuly 5, 1932, wherein a plurality of longitudinally spaced anchoring means are adapted for successive actuation to anchor a section of tubing at a plurality of vertically spaced points; and it is the object of the lpresent invention to simplify the construction by mounting the plurality of anchoring means on a section of tubingwhich is of xed length and which is adapted for assembly'in a tubing string so that the entrestring may be raised and lowered in a well as a unit.

- More particularly it is an object of the invention to actuate the primary anchoring means by relative longtiudinal movement between its gripping elements and a cooperating operating head, with said actuation of the primary anchoring means causing relative longitudinal movement between its operating head and the tubing section on which the anchor is mounted, and this relative movement of the operating head actuating a secondary anchoring means.

It is a further object of the invention to support gripping elements of the secondary anchoring means on .the operating head of the primary anchoring means, with an operating head for the secondary anchoring means adapted for longitudinal movement with the tubing section on which the anchor is mounted, so that relative longitudinal movement between the operating-head of the primary anchoring means and said tubing section,v causes-relative longitudinal movement between the gripping elements and the operating head of the secondary anchoring means for actuating the latter.

" 'It is 'a still further object of the inventionto provide a resiliently yieldable support between the gripping `elements o the secondary anchoring means land the operating head of the primary anchoring means, vwhereby actuation of the secondlary anchoring means is cushioned so as to avoid such abrupt or tight'setting of the secondary anchoring means as might split'the well casing or prevent subsequent release oi the anchor.

' It -is a still further obj-ect of the invention to normaily'hold the operating head "ofthe primary anchoring means against 'longitudinal movement relativeto the tubing section on which the anchor is mounted, thereby avoiding premature actuation of the secondary anchoring means, and thus insuring successive actuation of the primary and secondary anchoring means. g

TF-urther :objects Tof the invention will be readilly understood fromthe 'following-description of the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the anchor, partly in l axial section, and showing it in inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the anchor in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing a modified construction.

A tubing string I is adapted for reception in the bore of well casing which is indicated at 2; and

the anchor is mounted on a tubing section la 1-0 which is of xed length, i. e. it does not consist of relatively telescopic sections, and which is connected by threaded coupling collars to upper and lower portions of the tubing string I so that the complete assembly may be raised and lowered as 15 a unit in casing 2. The anchor includes a. primary anchoring means and a secondary anchoring means, with each of these anchoring means adapted for actuation while the tubing section la f orms'a part of the complete, unitary, tubing string assembly. The primary anchoring means is preferably below the secondary anchoring means and may comprise a usual anchor adapted for either manual actuation at any desired level or automatic operation in the event of the tubing breaking.

This primary anchoring means includes an operating head 3 on the tubing section la, having wedging elements 4 which cooperate with normally inoperative slips 5 so that relative longitudinal movement between the head and the slips operatively expands the latter for anchoring engagement in the casing 2. The slips are mounted on a sleeve 6 which is slidable on tubing'sectio'n la, and a spring [which is mounted on the tubing section between the sleeve and a coupling collar 8, is normally compressed by the weight of the slips so that the slips are inoperatively contracted below head 3 as shown at Fig. 1; but if the string of tubing drops suddenly the inertia of sleeve 6 and the tension of spring 'I tends to retard the sleeve sro that the slips carried thereby are operatively expanded by relative downward movement of the head 3.

Manual operation of the primary anchoring means may be controlled by a sleeve 9 which is slidable on tubing section la below the sleeve 6, but which is yieldably held against rotation or axial displacement in casing 2 by means of bowed springs I0. The lsleeve 9 has a slot l-I opening through its lower end, with the upper en-d of the slot forming a transverse 4slot I la terminating in a depending slot Hb; and a pin i2 which projects radially from the tubing string, preferably at the coupling collar 8, is sliclable in the slots. When the pin engages slot IIb it locks the sleeve 9 on the tubing string as shown at Fig. 1, but by slightly elevating and then turning the tubing string relative to the sleeve, the

vpin I2 is adapted to be alined with slot II so that the tubing string may then be lowered relative to sleeve 9, thereby impinging the sleeve 9 against the sleeve 6 for elevating the slips 5 relative to head 3 so as to operatively expand the slips as shownl at Fig. 2.

A secondary anchoring means isy provided so as to insure adequate anchoring engagement for a tubing string of such length and weight that a usual anchor such as has been described, might not aiord the desired safety factor; and the secondary anchoring means is actuated by anchoring engagement of the primary anchoring means. For this purpose the head L3 of the primary anchoring means is slidable on tubing `section la between spaced abutments I5-I 6, so that when the primary anchoring means hasY been actuated the tubing string will have been lowered relative to head 3 until the abutment I5 has engaged the headas shown at Fig. 2. yA head I1 having wedging elements I8 is xed on tubing section .la above the abutment I5, and cooperating slips I9 are mounted on the tubing section and are supported by head 3, so that the slips are normally in inoperative position below their cooperatingiwedging elementsas shown at Fig. 1, but relative longitudinal movement of the tubing section and the head 3 when the primary anchor is actuated, is adapted to elevate the slips I9 relative to their wedging elements I8 so as to Voperatively expand the slips as shown at Fig. 2. 4

A cushioned support is preferably provided between the slips I9 and the head 3, so as to avoid settingthe slips so tightly as to split the casing or prevent subsequent release of the anchor, and for this purpose the slips may be mounted on a collar 20 Vwhich is slidable on tubing section Ia, with a coil spring 2| resting upon head 3 :and supporting the collar 20. The spring 2| is thus adapted to yield slightly when the secondary anchoring means is actuated, so as to cushion its anchoring engagement.

As shown in the modied construction illustrated at Fig. 3, means may be provided for preventing elevationof head 3 on tubing section la.

until such time as the rprimary anchoring means has been actuated, thereby avoiding premature or accidental actuation of the secondary anchoring means. As an instance of this arrangement the construction may be the same as thatpreviously described, except that a coil spring 25 is interposed between the abutment I5 and the head 3,` tending to retain the head in inoperative position supported on the abutment I6, and the spring 2Ia which supports the slips I9, instead of being Vsupported directly on head 3 may be supported on a sleeve 26 which rests on head 3.

l If an obstruction is met while lowering the tubing string into the well casing, the spring 25 thus counteracts any tendency of -the head 3 to slide upwardly on the tubing string such as would prematurely actuate the secondary anchor, but when the primary anchor is actuated the weight of the tubing string lowers the same relative to l head 3 against the tension of spring,25until the spring 25 is fully compressed so that the compressed spring and the abutment I 5 arrest downward movement ofthe tubing string relative to the-head 3.v The secondary anchoring means is the cushioning spring 2Ia to elevate the slips I9 relative to their cooperating head Il.

The invention thus provides a plurality of anchoring means adapted for actuation consecutively upwardly so as to afford an adequate safety factor, with the plurality of anchoring means mounted on a tubular support which is of fixed length and which is connected to upper and lower portions of a tubing string so that the complete assembly forms Ya unitary tubing string, and the primary anchoring means adapted for either manual or automatic actuation, and the second- Y ary anchoring means adapted for cushioned actuation responsive to initial actuation of the primary anchoring means, with both of said anchoring means adapted for actuation while their tubuj f lar support is connected to the tubing string as a part of the complete assembly which is adapted for actuation .by relative telescoping of the slips Y on their wedging elements, and means for actuating the slips for saidv wedging elements consecutively upwardly, the tubular support being'positively xed against vdownward displacement relative to each of the wedging elements Ventirely independently of the other of said wedging elements when the slips have been actuated, whereby the actuated slips for each wedging element support a part of the weight of the tubing string.

2. In a tubing catcher,V a single tubular stock adapted to connect proximate sections of a tubing string in fixed spaced relation, anchoring means on the stock each comprising a wedging element and cooperating slips adapted for actuation by relative telescoping of the slips on their wedging elements, the anchoring means being spaced longitudinally on the tubular stock with the lower anchoring means slidable on the. stock while being actuated, and means for automatically actuatingA the anchoring means consecutively upwardly when the catcher is dropped, the tubular stock being positively iixed against downward displacement relative to each of the wedging elements entirely independently of the other of said wedging elements when the anchoring means have been actuated, whereby each of the actuated anchoring means supports a part of thel Weight of the tubing string. Y

3. In combination, a tubular support of fixed length adapted to connect proximate sections of a tubing string in fixed spaced relation, wedging elements on the support, slips for the respective wedging elements adapted for actuation by relative telescoping of the slips on their wedging elements,Y the slips when actuated being expanded for engagement with the wallof a well bore, and means for actuating the slips for said Vwedging elements consecutively upwardly, the ,tubular support being positively xed against ydownward displacement relative to each of the wedging elements entirely independently of the other of said wedging elements when the slips have been actuated, whereby the actuated slips for each wedging element support a part of the weight of the tubing string.

4. In a tubing catcher, a support Aof xed length adapted for incorporation in a tubing string so as to connect proximate sections'of the thenv actuated kby the sleeve 26 acting through string` in iixed spaced relation whereby the as- 75 tudinal movement ofthe support relative to the gripping elements of the anchoring means.-

.10. In a tubingA catcher, a support of fixed length adapted for incorporation in a tubing string so as to-connect proximate sections of the string Yin .fixed spacedrelation whereby the assembled string may be raised andl lowered .in a well bore as a unit o-f fixed length, ar plurality of anchoring means on the support, Yeach adapted for actuation while the support forms a part of the unitary tubingstring assembly, each anchoring means including a gripping element and a wedgingV element, said elements being adapted for cooperation so that as a result of actuation of each anchoring means its gripping element is operatively wedged between its wedging element and the wall of the well bore, the wedging element of each anchoring means being 'mounted =on the support so thatl when its cooperating grip- -ping element has been 'operatively wedged the support kis positively -fixed against downward movement relative to saidy wedging element entirely'independently of thel other of the anchoring means, and means adapting the anchoring means vfor actuation consecutively upwardly by longitudinal movement ofthe wedging elements ofthe anchoring means relatively toward each other;

11. In atubing catcher, a support of fixed length adapted for 'incorporation in a tubing string so as to connect proximate sections of the stringin fixed spaced relation whereby the assembled string may be raised and lowered in a well bore as a unitxof fixed length, a plurality of anchoring means on the support, each adapted for actuation while the support forms a part of the unitaryv tubing string assembly, each anchoring means including a gripping element and a wedging element, said elements being adapted for cooperation sof that as a result of actuation of each anchoring means its gripping element is operatively wedgedV between its wedging element andthe wall of the well bore, the wedging element of each* anchoring means being mounted on the support so that when its cooperatinggripping element has been operatively wedged the support isA positively xed againstV downward movement relative to said wedging element entirely independently of the other of the anchoring means, the wedging element of a first anchoring means being adapted for slidingmovement on the support while said anchoring means isbeing actuated,and-means operable by said sliding movement for actuating another of the anchoring means.

l2. In a tubing catcher, `a support of fixed lengthadapted for incorporation in atubing string so'as to connect proximate'V sections of the string' in fixed spaced relation whereby the assembled Vstring may be raised and lowered in a well bore as a unit of fixed length, aplurality of anchoring means on the support, each adapted for actuation while the support forms a part of the unitary tubing string assembly, each anchoring'means including a gripping element and a wedging element, said elements being adapted for cooperation so `that as a result of actuation of each anchoring means itsgripping element is operatively wedged between its wedging element and the wallof the well bore, the wedging ele, ment of eachanchoring means being mounted ony the support so that when itsy cooperating gripping element has been operatively wedged the support is positively fixed against downward movement relative to said wedging element entirelyindependently ofthe other ofthe anchorment on the Vsupport -while said anchoring means --is Ybeing, actuated, and means supporting the -1 sembled string maybe raised and loweredin a Ywell bore as a unit of xed length, an anchoring-meansincluding a slip and a cooperating wedging element slidable on the support, a. second anchoring means including a slip and acooperating wedging element,A the last mentioned wedging element being fixed against longitudinall movement relative to the support, and a spring supporting the last mentioned slip, Asaid ling means, the'wedging element of a first an- Y Ychoring rmeans `being adapted'for sliding movespring being 'mounted on the wedging element of the firstmentioned anchoring means, each of `Athe anchoring means being adapted for actuation by relative longitudinal movement of its slip and its wedging 'element while the support .forms a part-of the unitary tubing string assembly, andthe tubular support vbeing positively fixed againstdownward movement relative to the wedging element of each of the actuatedranchoringmeans entirely independentlyrof the other of the actuated anchoring meansfwhereby each ofthe actuated anchoring means Asupports a part of the weightof the tubing string.

A 14.1 yIn a tubing catcher, a support of fixed length adaptedr for incorporationV in a tubing string vso asto connect proximate sections of the string lin fixed spaced relation whereby the assembled string may be raised and lowered in a well bore as a unit of fixed length, a plurality of anchoring means .on the support, each adapted for actuation while the support forms a part of the unitary` tubing string assembly, each anchoring means includinga gripping element and ment is operatively wedged between its wedgirigY element and the wall of the well bore, the wedging element of each anchoringl means being mounted on the support. so that when its cooperating gripping element has been operatively wedged the support is positivelyy xed against downward movement relative to said Ywedging element entirely independently ofthe other of Y thel anchoringmeans, the wedging element of a first anchoring means being adapted for sliding `movement on the vvsupport while said anchoring means is being actuated, and a spring supporting the gripping element of a second anchoring means, said spring being mounted on the Wedging element of said .first anchoring means. Y,

15. Ina tubing catcher, a suppOrt of fixed length adapted for assembly in a tubing string `so that the complete assembly maybe raised and lowered in a vwell asa unit,Y automatic anchoring means slidable on the support while said of the first anchoring means on the support, and each of the anchoring means when actuated gripping the Wall of the well and having the support positively fixed against downward displacement relative to said actuated anchoring means entirely independently of the other of the actuated anchoring means, whereby each of the actuated anchoring means supports a part of the weight of the tubing string.

16. In a tubing catcher, a support of fixed length adapted for assembly in a tubing string so that the complete assembly may be raised and lowered in a well as a unit, anchoring means comprising superimposed heads mounted on the support and having inclined faces, gripper slips mounted to slide on said faces whereby the slips are displaced radially of the heads, and means for automatically actuating the anchoring means by radial displacement of the slips of said anchoring means consecutively upwardly when the catcher is dropped, the support being positively xed against downward displacement relative to the head of each of the actuated anchoring means entirely independently of the other of the actuated anchoring means, whereby each of the actuated anchoring means supports a part of the weight of the tubing string.

17. In a tubing catcher, a support of fixed length adapted for assembly in a tubing string so that the complete assembly may be raised and lowered in a well as a unit, a plurality of superimposed anchoring means mounted on the support in normal spaced relation, and means operated responsive to inertia of the tubing catcher when it is dropped for automatically and consecutively actuating each of the superimposed anchoring means, each of the anchoring means when actuated gripping the wall of the well and having the support positively fixed against downward displacement relative to each of said actuated anchoring means entirely independently of the other of the actuated anchoring means, whereby each of the actuated anchoring means supports a part of the weight of the tubing string.

18. An apparatus of the character described comprising a section of tubing of fixed length adapted for assembly in a tubing string so that the complete assembly may be raised and lowered in a well as a unit, a plurality of superimposed anchoring means on said tubing section in normal spaced relation, and means for consecutively actuating each of the anchoring means by moving the anchoring means toward one another, each of the anchoring means when actuated gripping the wall of the well and having the said tubing section positively xed against downward displacement relative to each of said actuated anchoring means entirely independently of the other of the actuated anchoring means, whereby each of the actuated anchoring means supports a part of the weight of the tubing string.

19. In a tubing catcher, a support of fixed length adapted for assembly in a tubing string so as to connect proximate' sections of the string in fixed spaced relation whereby the complete assembly may be raised and lowered in a well as a unit of xed length, anchoring means including a wedging element for actuating said anchoring means, said wedging element being xed against longitudinal displacement relative to the support, and a second anchoring means slidable on the support responsive to inertia when the catcher is dropped, said sliding movement of the second anchoring means actuating the second anchoring means and then actuating the rst anchoring means, each of the anchoring means when f actuated gripping the wall of the well and having the support positively fixed against downward displacement relative to said actuated anchoring means entirely independently of the other of the actuated anchoring means, whereby each of the actuated anchoring means supports a part of the weight of the tubing string, and the actuated first and second anchoring means gripping the wall of the well at consecutively higher levels.

20. In a tubing catcher, a support of fixed length adapted for incorporation in a tubing string so as to connect proximate sections of the string in fixed spaced relation whereby the assembled string may be raised and lowered in a well bore as a unit of fixed length, an anchoring means including a slip and a cooperating wedging element slidable on the support, a second anchoring means including a slip and a co-operating wedging element, thelast mentioned wedging element being fixed against longitudinal movement relative to the support, each of the anchoring means being adapted for actuation by relative longitudinal movement of its slip and its wedging element while the support forms a part of the unitary tubing string assembly, and an abutment fixed against longitudinal movement relative to the support, the wedging element of the rst anchoring means being xed by said abutment against longitudinal movement relative to the support when said first anchoring means has been actuated, and the slip and the wedging element of each anchoring means being of nonyielding material whereby when each anchoring means is actuated it provides a non-yielding support for a part of the weight of the tubing string.

ERD V. CROWELL. 

